The Green Bay Packers need a great many things to go right if they are going to improve from the 8-9 2022 season. Jordan Love and the offense aside, the run defense has to be better than it has been over the last two seasons.
Having De’Vondre Campbell healthy for a full season will help, as will a second-year leap from Quay Walker. However, run defense starts in the trenches, and the fact of the matter is the the defensive line just has not been good enough.
The good news, however, is that head coach Matt LaFleur is very impressed with the improvements a couple of their linemen have made over the offseason.
Matt LaFleur Praises Green Bay Packers 2022 Seventh Round Draft Pick Jonathan Ford
Yesterday, LaFleur addressed the media prior to the Packers’ training camp session. Towards the beginning of his interview, he was asked about center Josh Myers and what he has to do to cement his starting job. Instead of dogging Myers, LaFleur praised the improvements of the defensive linemen, including 2022 seventh round pick Jonathan Ford:
LIVE: Head Coach Matt LaFleur speaks with the media at #PackersCamp 🎙️ https://t.co/YK34dN9NQR
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 3, 2023
“First of all, whosever at that spot [center] has a heck of a challenge on a daily basis. Going up against, especially when Kenny [Clark] is in there, I think our D-line has done a really nice job.
“I think TJ [Slaton] has upped his game, [Jonathan] Ford has upped his game, so whosever at that spot, it’s been a challenge.”
This is certainly great news for Packers fans who have watched the defensive line underperform for years now. While Kenny Clark is a two-time Pro Bowler, he has rarely had the help he needs on the line to free him up for interior pass rushes and to disrupt runs in the backfield.
Devonte Wyatt has been drawing praise from coaches, fans, and media alike, so it sounds like the second-year player out of Georgia will be starting alongside Clark. Slaton, too, is projected by many to be a starter on the line.
The importance of Ford playing well enough in practice to earn an unsolicited mention from his head coach, though, cannot be understated. Last season, Ford made the 53-man roster, but was not active for any games.
With Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed both gone via free agency, the defensive line took a hit in terms of its depth. While Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden were drafted to provide youth and depth, it is always better if a team has more and more quality players deep down its depth chart.
Ford will certainly need to separate himself from the field of other defensive linemen in order to actually see the field this season, but it certainly sounds like he has made an impression on his head coach, which is a great start.
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